Share this:

Tokyo Godfathers (2003)

What it is

Directed by auteur extraordinaire Satoshi Kon, Tokyo Godfathers is sort of a modern interpretation of the story of the magi. Three heart-of-gold hobos — an alcoholic, a runaway daughter, and a former drag queen — find an abandoned baby and make it their mission to get the child back to her parents. But as with any journey involving a ragtag team of misfits, things don’t always go as planned.

What we learned

The plot device of deus ex machina tends to be looked at and used as a cop-out in most stories, but Tokyo Godfathers is the kind of film that does it really well. The lesson? Sometimes, things just work out.

“Christmas and Chill” by Ariana Grande

What it is

Released in 2015, “Christmas and Chill” is (arguably) Ariana Grande’s best contribution to the holiday season. While her version of Last Christmas has become a solid fave of many over the years, her original Christmas tracks like Winter Things and Wit It This Christmas are slowly becoming icons of their own. Not quite like JMC though.

What we learned

Okay, I love All I Want for Christmas is You as much as the next person, but you gotta flex some pop music muscles if you want to sit at the cool cousins table at your family reunion. Everybody bonds over Ariana Grande somehow.

Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Collection

What it is

Like a true Taurus, Gigi Hadid has a good eye for beauty. It’s no surprise that her latest collaboration with Maybelline is in every girl’s wish list this Christmas. The design and details of these products reveal Gigi Hadid’s life as she sees it, from East Coast to West Coast, one shade name at a time.

Get the West Coast Glow set for that warm and sunkissed Cali look — inspired by Gigi’s hometown, LA. But if you’re more of an NYC girl who likes to look fierce and bold 24/7, then the East Coast Glam set is the better choice for you.

What we learned

We’re still not over soft pink packaging and we’re always a sucker for great but cheap drugstore makeup. There’s a lot of products and shades to choose from, so thank you Gigi, for spoiling your fellow Tauruses. Our top picks: #GigixMaybelline BB Cushion in Natural, Khair lippie from the West Coast Glam set.

FML By Michael Hobbes

What it is

Millennials are screwed. Why? Because we’re apparently “facing the scariest financial future of any generation since the Great Depression.” At least that’s what writer Michael Hobbes writes in his piece for Highline. Using interactive 8-bit graphics and solid data, the article illustrates how bad millennials have it financially. It also explains the problem with older generations (read: baby boomers) hating on millennials for being “entitled” and “lazy” (e.g. this all started because of their bad decisions).

What we learned

While the data applies more to US-based millennials, the piece does a good job of mapping out the bigger picture and making the problems we as a generation face more digestible. It also takes into account structural disadvantage and how situations are different across demographics. Also: this is website layout done right. I mean, look at those graphics.